Reusable Waterproof Ice Storage Bag For Use Inside Of Coolers

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a novel durable bag for storing ice within a cooler. The bag keeps ice and the subsequent melted ice water separate from the food and beverages within the cooler. The durable ice bag is easily filled and refilled with ice as necessary via the opening with a waterproof closure and is easily drained via a drain mechanism. The durable ice bag also facilitates the hygenic reuse of the melted ice water as a result of using potable water safe materials for its interior construction.

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/693,665 filed 2018 Jul. 3 by the present inventor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to ice chest or cooler accessories, particularly systems for keeping the interior of a cooler at a safe temperature for foods and beverages. It also embodies elements of containment and reuse of the melted water from ice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Millions of people use cubed ice or ice blocks to keep their coolers cold while camping, boating, tailgating, fishing, hunting, beachgoing, picnicking, or travelling. Commercially available ice is sold in thin (e.g. 1.5 mil) plastic bags. These bags often come with existing holes from which water can leak. Thin plastic ice bags can be easily torn inside of a cooler as they make contact with food storage or beverage containers. As ice melts in a cooler, it creates water that can seep into food containers and become contaminated. Many food or beverage storage containers themselves are not sealed or waterproof. Thus, contaminated water from melting ice can create a mess. If it has contacted uncooked meats or other bacteria-laden substances, the meltwater becomes a food safety hazard. In addition, the melting ice inside of coolers would be unsuitable to be consumed or used in beverages once it has contacted food, hands or a less-than-hygienic cooler surface. The contaminated meltwater is typically disposed of and not reused as potable water. In so doing, hundreds of millions of gallons of water are wasted every year.

A further challenge to the current, common practice of purchasing cubed or block ice at grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations and the like is the single use plastic bag packaging. Many municipalities, states and countries are in the process of banning single use plastics and it may become a necessity to use an alternate non-single-use packaging for cubed and block ice.

On multi-day travels or camping, trips users are not able to solve this problem by using reusable-style, gel-containing freezer packs. On such trips, there are not readily available opportunities to refreeze these packs after they lose their cooling ability. Further, these packs can take hours to refreeze. Thus, while musable-style, gel-containing freezer packs solve the water-in-the-cooler problem, they create additional problems for anyone keeping food or beverages cold who (1) does not have access to a freezer or (2) does not want to wait for their reusable freezer packs to refreeze. One additional drawback to gel-containing freezer packs is that these do not allow for consumable ice cubes as one would need for beverages.

Another solution to the water-in-the-cooler problem is to transfer ice to a zipper-closure food storage bag (e.g. Ziploc® baggies). These less robust disposable bags are constructed of a thin plastic material, which can suffer from the same abrasion tears and leakage issues of the original ice bag. These baggies do not have a convenient manner to drain and reuse the melted ice water. In these ways, using another type of thin plastic bag inside of a cooler does not solve the problems of the original commercially-available ice bag.

An additional possible solution to the water-in-the-cooler problem is to place the ice in a kayaking or boating style drybag. These bags have the primary function of keeping water from the exterior of the bag from the contents of the bag. Thus, the design is not waterproof from the interior to the exterior. Furthermore, they are no constructed of materials that are safe to come in contact with potable water. Therefore, they do not facilitate the safe use of ice cubes front the bag nor the reuse of the potable ice melt water.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a durable and reusable ice storage bag which has a waterproof interior with a large opening at the top which easily facilitates filling the bag with cubed or block ice. This opening has a completely waterproof closure. The reusable ice bag is placed in the cooler to keep the food and beverages cold, clean and safe to consume. The durable and reusable ice bag also has a mechanism to facilitate the draining of the ice melt water without the necessity of opening the top closure. As the ice melts, the melt water can be used for drinking, cooking or cleaning. The interior surface of the bag as well as the interior of the closure mechanism and the draining mechanism are all constructed of potable water safe materials as to facilitate the reuse of the ice melt water. The bag can be easily refilled with cubed or block ice as necessary to keep the cooler at a safe and palatable temperature for food and beverages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a front perspective view of one example of the reusable ice storage bag according to various embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

Novel reusable ice bag for use in a cooler is discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention.

The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.

The present invention will now be described by referencing the appended figures representing preferred embodiments. FIG. 1 depicts an example of a reusable ice bag for use in coolers. The body of the reusable bag 2 may be constructed of a durable nylon exterior laminated with a thermoplastic polyurethane interior lining such as produced by Lamcotech Inc. (Monson, Mass.). The fabric may have seams that are radio frequency or ultrasonic welded as to ensure durability and waterproofness. The fabric may be purposefully uninsulated as to allow the ice within the bag to cool the contents of the cooler.

The closure at the top of the bag 3 will be completely waterproof and welded to the main body of the ice storage bag. This closure may be constructed of a thermoplastic polyurethane zipper such as produced by ITW Maxigrip (Glenview, Ill.). The closure can be large enough to facilitate filling the bag with cubed or block ice and can constructed of potable water safe materials as to allow the reuse of the ice melt water.

The drain function of the bag may be facilitated using common fixtures for outdoor water bladders as produced by The Taiwan Vertex Production Corp. (Taiwan) The female coupler 4 may be welded to the main body of the ice storage bag and incorporates a check valve as to seal off the contents of the bag when no hose is attached. The female coupler 4 provides an attachment point for the drain coupler 5 which attaches to the drain hose 6. The drain hose 6 attaches to the on/off valve 7. All of the drain components are constructed of potable water safe materials and durable to −15 degrees Celsius.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A reusable ice storage bag for use in coolers comprising: a. durable and waterproof fabric construction, and b. a waterproof opening large for filling with cubed or block ice, and c. a mechanism for draining the ice melt water, and d. a durable potable-water-safe interior, whereby, said bag is filled with cubed or block ice and subsequent ice melt water is kept separate from food and beverages inside of the cooler and the ice melt water is easily drained and reused. 